Between the aches of first-trimester morning sickness and the exhaustion of mid-to-late pregnancy, exercise might be the last thing on a pregnant woman’s mind. However, there are real benefits to exercising throughout your pregnancy – as long as you’ve cleared it with your OB first. Though ultra-marathons and weight-lifting should be approached with caution, there are some ways to move your body that can help you and your baby be healthier throughout the pregnancy.

How Exercise Makes Pregnancy Easier

Along with the joy of pregnancy comes a lot of physical discomfort, and there’s no magic wand that can whisk away some of those difficulties. Exercise can, though, make some of those difficulties more manageable. For instance, exercising can help:

Ease lower back pain.

Reduce constipation and bloating.

Lessen anxiety and stress.

Sustain healthy blood pressure levels.

Reduce the risk of gestational diabetes.

Boost energy and mood.

Reduce swelling of limbs.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Make sleep easier.

Promote endurance.

These are just a few of the issues pregnancy can initiate. Like exercise before or after pregnancy, its benefits depend on what your body needs. Unless bedrest is in the best interest of you and your baby, keeping your body physically active can make your pregnancy much less challenging.

In situations where your health or the health of the baby is at risk, your physician may tell you to take it easy and exercise after your baby is safely in the world. Some instances where you are better to forego exercise include:

Preeclampsia.

Cervical issues.

Vaginal bleeding.

Severe anemia.

Placenta issues.

Preterm labor.

If your doctor has mentioned any of these issues, be sure to consult with him or her before exercise.

Good Exercises to Try During Pregnancy

Intense exercise, where you push your body to the max, isn’t best during pregnancy. You have to balance protecting your body and baby with increasing its efficiency and your overall health. It’s best to talk with your doctor before taking on any new exercises, but, after you are cleared, you may be wondering the best ways to get your body moving. Here are a few exercises to consider:

Swimming. Taking a dip in the water can feel like a huge relief during pregnancy because it makes you feel weightless. Swimming can also keep you from getting overheated unlike other forms of exercise. Though water feels good, you should avoid hot tubs or unfamiliar bodies of water.

Walking. All you need is a pair of good shoes and a clear path to get started on a walking routine. Many pregnant women say walking transformed how they felt during pregnancy. Avoid walking during our icy or snow seasons to prevent falls. The Superior Dome has many available hours for walkers – and it’s free.

Prenatal yoga. Yoga can be great for calming the mind and stretching the delicate muscles and tendons necessary for childbirth. When practiced with a prenatal certified yoga instructor, you can start to learn how to use your body to help during the upcoming labor rather than work against itself. It can also be a gentle exercise that improves blood circulation and helps the whole body.

Follow Your Body’s Lead

If an exercise begins to feel uncomfortable, listen to what your body is saying and stop. Make sure to plan for breaks and stay hydrated, drinking water before, during, and after exercise. During pregnancy, you should have enough breath to maintain a conversation during your exercise. If you don’t, back off. There’s plenty of time to push yourself after your pregnancy. Talk to our team if you have questions, and let us know before you start any new or unfamiliar exercise programs.

We were honored to have been featured in the Winter 2017 edition of the Marquette Women’s Center newsletter! We were featured for our volunteer work adopting two families through the Adopt-A-Family program, where we purchased and wrapped gifts for two families in need.

Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. Affecting at least 5-8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. Swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision are important symptoms; however, some women with rapidly advancing disease report few symptoms.

Typically, preeclampsia occurs after 20 weeks gestation (in the late 2nd or 3rd trimesters or middle to late pregnancy) and up to six weeks postpartum (after delivery), though in rare cases it can occur earlier than 20 weeks. Proper prenatal care is essential to diagnose and manage preeclampsia. Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) and toxemia are outdated terms for preeclampsia. HELLP syndrome and eclampsia (seizures) are other variants of preeclampsia.

Globally, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death. By conservative estimates, these disorders are responsible for 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths each year.

For American Heart Month, OBGYN Associates invites you to “put a little love in your heart” this February. Not only a man’s killer, heart disease is now the number one cause of death for women in America. How can we face such an enormous problem? How can we ensure that we’re caring for our hearts? How can we help make our friends and family aware of the problem of heart health?

It is estimated that nearly 80% of heart disease and stroke in women is preventable. That’s a sobering number, considering how small steps can promote heart health and lessen our chance (and reverse the effects) of heart disease. This month, pledge to make small changes to love your heart:

Walk on your lunch break;

Eat more fruits and vegetables;

Reduce your stress (i.e.: when you leave work, leave work–go home and live your life!);

Drink plenty of water;

Try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night;

Quit smoking.

Isn’t it amazing that the simple choices that make our lives more healthy overall are the same choices that would strengthen our hearts?

If you’re committing to do at least one of these things in February, stop in the office and sign one of our heart cards, which we are proudly displaying to remind our patients to care for their hearts. We also have a small box for donations to benefit the American Heart Association, which will be available through the end of the month. When you make a donation through our office, we’ll send you away with a GO RED pin to help spread the word about Heart Month!

Did you know that half of all women diagnosed with Cervical Cancer have never had a pap smear? Though we’ve made remarkable progress in the detection and treatment of Cervical Cancer, the best way to avoid it is prevention and regular screenings. This month at OBGYN, we invite you to wear teal to show your support of Cervical Health Awareness. Remind your friends, your sisters, your mothers, your daughters, your co-workers to schedule their next pap.

Did you know that as many as 3 out of 4 menopausal women will experience hot flashes? Though this is the most common symptom of menopause, many women also experience vaginal and urinary tract changes, decreased libido, and emotional changes during menopause. For more information, please visit the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists page on Menopause.

Remember, the best way to determine care for yourself during menopause is to discuss your health and symptoms with your Gynecologist.

Breast cancer can be found in people of any age. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Please remember to do a monthly breast exam so that you know if there are differences in your breast tissue. If you feel anything unusual during your exam please call your physician to be seen so they can help determine if a mammogram or ultrasound of the area is needed.

Sudden infant death syndrome is the leading cause of death for infants between the ages of one month and one year of age. Despite all the years of research on SIDS it still remains unpredictable and takes about 2500 infant lives a year.

Most deaths due to SIDS happen between 2 and 4 months of age. There is not one single factor that is likely to cause an infant death but several of the factors combined may cause and at-risk infant to die. Below are potential risk factors that could lead to SIDS:

Consultations

Education

Our physicians are actively involved in medical education as professors through Michigan State University, teaching medical students and Family Practice residents, keeping themselves current in the latest ideas and techniques in the field.